NEWS BRIEFS:

Wash. May Approve Alcohol Tasting for College Students

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington senators are moving ahead with a proposal that would allow older teens to taste alcohol in college classes.

The plan approved by the Senate would permit alcohol tasting for students enrolled culinary, beer technology or similar programs. The students must be at least 18 years of age and supervised by faculty or staff at a community or technical college. Students are supposed to taste but not consume the alcohol.

Supporters say the proposal would improve educational programs for students and help them learn about an important industry.

Democratic Sen. Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam opposed the measure, saying he fears that the bill is the first of many that would lower drinking ages and expand access to alcohol.

The measure passed 42-7 and now goes to the state House.

NC Bill Would End Enrollment for Illegal Immigrants

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s university and community college systems would no longer be allowed to enroll illegal immigrants in legislation filed by some House Republicans.

The bill would overturn policies by the University of North Carolina system and state community college system. Students can attend these schools now only if they graduated from a U.S. high school and pay out-of-state tuition.

The bill would have exceptions for students who already are enrolled at a campus so they can complete a program or for students who are dually enrolled in a high school or secondary school.

The bill’s primary sponsors are Reps. George Cleveland of Jacksonville and Chris Whitmire of Rosman.

President Greg Hamann says the cuts are a result of a 5 percent drop in enrollment, state funding cuts and rising health care costs.

The Albany Democrat-Herald reports that students will face a $3 per credit increase in tuition in the fall, and larger tuition increases can be expected for higher-cost programs.

The job cuts include layoffs and positions in which retirees won’t be replaced. Ten are among the faculty, nine are staff positions, and four are administrators.

The volleyball and men’s basketball programs will remain as intercollegiate programs.

NM House OKs Expanded Scholarships

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — More New Mexicans will qualify for lottery-financed college scholarships under a measure heading to the Senate for consideration.

The House approved a proposal on a 49-13 vote to extend the scholarships to students enrolling in a two-year college within two years of graduating from high school.

Currently, a high school student must enroll in a New Mexico public college or university the semester after graduation to receive a scholarship, which covers the cost of tuition.

Supporters of the proposal said some students aren’t prepared to enter college immediately after high school.

The measure also makes scholarships available to New Mexicans enrolling in college within two years — rather than one year currently — of being honorably discharged from the military if they had joined right after high school.

La. Parish Calls For Creation of New College

WALKER, La. (AP) — Officials say creation of a community college in Livingston Parish would meet a major need in one of the fastest-growing areas of the state.

As new medical centers, industries and businesses open in the parish, state Sen. Dale Erdey said that demand increases for people with college and vocational training.

“We think the time is right,”’ Erdey said. “We’ve got a good shot at this.”

Randy Rogers, executive director of the Livingston Economic Development Council, expressed similar comments.

“We’re at a point where we need this facility,” Rogers said.

The Advocate reports LEDC has made a $5.2 million capital outlay request to the Legislature to build classrooms, a vocational training facility and added infrastructure on the grounds of the Literacy and Technology Center where proponents want to see the college emerge.

State Rep. J. Rogers Pope said he hopes to see a new community college holding classes at that site in Walker by the spring semester of 2014.

Former Miss. Gov. Establishes CC Scholarship

SENATOBIA, Miss. (AP) — Former Gov. Ronnie Musgrove and his wife, Melody, have established a scholarship at Northwest Mississippi Community College to be awarded to students who demonstrate a need and academic potential.

Musgrove attended the two-year college and served as president of the Student Government Association.

A native of Tocowa near Batesville, Musgrove graduated from South Panola High School and attended Northwest. Musgrove attended the University of Mississippi and the Ole Miss law school.

He practiced law in Batesville before serving two terms in the state Senate, a term as lieutenant governor and a term as governor.

Musgrove, a Democrat, says he could not have attended college without scholarship assistance. He says his father died when he was very young and his mother was left with four children to educate.

W. Pa. College OK’s 3 Percent Wage Increase

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Community College of Allegheny County has approved a three percent, one-year raise for about 330 faculty union members.

The trustees of the school approved the plan unanimously. The raises will cost CCAC an extra $650,000 in the 2013-14 school year.

The contract is between CCAC and Local 2067 of the American Federation of Teachers.

CCAC spokesman David Hoovler says annual salaries across the bargaining unit average $65,000.

Union President John Dziak says 98 percent of members voted to approve the wage agreement, which is for the third year of a contract.

Tech Colleges in Ga. Expanding Global Reach

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Technical College of Georgia is expanding its global reach with new international contracts.

Officials expect to sign a $3 million contract with the African nation of Kenya soon, The Athens Banner-Herald reported.

Athens Technical College and two other system colleges already are working with Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal University under an $8 million contract, TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson said recently.

He said other Saudi Arabian universities also are interested in contracting with the Georgia technical college system.

“(These opportunities) are so potentially lucrative for the system I think we cannot not look at them in an entrepreneurial way,” Jackson told the board of the technical college system at a recent meeting.

Under the existing contract with King Faisal University, administrators and teachers at Athens Tech and two other system colleges are setting up a new school, King Faisal University Community College, in Saudi Arabia.

Jackson said Kenyan officials aren’t asking for a new school, but help in setting up a curriculum for technical colleges.

Mich. College Gets Donation For New Center

MONROE, Mich. (AP) — The DTE Energy Foundation has made a $1 million contribution to support the capital campaign for a new Career Technology Center at Monroe County Community College.

The funding announced also aims to promote diversity at the school.

The $17 million, 60,000-square-foot center is scheduled to open in the fall. Officials say they want to help prepare people for high-demand, high-paying jobs.

Detroit-based DTE Energy Co. has partnered with the school on several efforts, including development of the college’s nuclear engineering technology program. DTE’s power plants in Monroe County include the Fermi 2 nuclear plant in Frenchtown Township.

Conn. College Head Seeks Armed Police

MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) — The president of Manchester Community College is again questioning a state ban on armed campus police just days after a lockdown when a student reported seeing a man with what she believed was a gun in his waistband.

The Journal Inquirer of Manchester reported that college President Gena Glickman joined police chiefs from the University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University to make the case to the legislature for stronger police forces, better planning and regular training on college campuses.

Glickman is seeking to change state policy banning guns on the Manchester Community College campus, even for police. She’s won support from the Manchester Police Department and state police.

Glickman’s request is before the Board of Regents. She hopes it will be approved after a security study of each community college.